cottom



(N0 Model.)

J. B. COTTOM.

ROOF SCAFFOLD.

Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

Zivi/*addr In: Noam: mans no.. mcrroumm wnsnmscmA nlc. Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. OOTTOM, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO` LEVIN C. OOTTOM, OF SAME PLACE.

ROOF-SCAFFO LD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,318, dated November 1, 1892.

Application iiled April 2, 1892. Serial No. 427,430. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. CoTroM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roof-Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in roof-scaifolds; and the objectl of my inven- Io tion is to provide a device especially adapted for use in making or repairing roofs "of build- 'A ings or other similar purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of novel and simple character y 5 which may be readily adjusted and securely held in place, so as to serve the purpose of a scaffold in forming roofs of shingles or otherwise.

My invention consists in the various conzc structions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective View showing a device embodying my invention in position for use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one of the holdingclamps in use therewith. Figs. 3 and l are respectively a longitudinal and transverse section, and Fig. 5 a partial front elevation of the same.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In constructing shingle roofs for buildings difficulty is experienced in forming a suitable foothold or scaold for the shinglers or 3 5 other workmen engaged in making the roof.

After several courses of shingles or other material have been laid a scaffold is generally provided by nailing cleats or suitable pieces to the roof to form foot-supports as the roof 4o progresses. These cannot be employed,how ever, for the rst few courses of shingles, and, besides, embody considerable trouble and expense in their construction and are detrimental to the roof when `removed therefrom.

In my improved scaffold I employ a suitable clamping device adapted to engage with the projecting ends of the roof material, and

to these clamping devices I add a bar or connecting-strip of any suitable length, adapted 5o to form a suitable scaffold for the workmen.

In the accompanying drawings, A A represent the adjustable clamping-supports (shown in Fig. l) in position on the projecting ends of the shingles forming a roof. B is the bar or connectingpiece resting against the same and forming the foot-rest or scaffold for the workmen. These clamping-supports A each consist of two parts a b, each provided with a projecting jaw a b', extending substantially at right angles to the main body of the 6o part, so as to be clamped on the opposite sides of a shingle or other stationary support. The parts a and b are connected together, so as to permit a relative movement one with the other. This is preferably accomplished by forming hook-shaped ways or guides b2 on the part l?, adapted to embrace the guidingedges a2 of the part a., which t and slide within the hook-shaped or grooved ways or bearings b2. I will term the part a the stationary part 7o and the part b the movable part, as this would correctly designate the parts when in position for use. The stationary part a is provided with a projecting boss or flange a3, extending laterally from the rear thereof above a recess or socket a4, formed in the back of said stationary part. The movable part b is provided with a similar backwardlyextending boss b3, which when the parts are together stands vertically above the boss or 8o fiange a3. The recess or socket 0,4 is formed by projecting flanges a5 and is adapted to receive the head c of a screw-threaded bolt c, which connects the respective parts. This bolt c extends upwardly through the re- 8 5 spective flanges or bosses a3 b3 and is provided with a thumb-nut c2, tapped out to receive thescreW-threaded end of the bolt c, so as to contact with the boss b3 and furnish means for moving the jaws a b together. 9o Means are employed for normally separating the jaws a b', which is preferably accomplished by a coil-spring d, placed upon the bolt c and resting at each end against the bosses c3 b3, respectively. It will be seen that 95 by this construction the jaws a and b' may be closed or opened by turning the thumbnut c2 in the proper direction upon the bolt c. To provide for readily assembling the parts, I construct the boss a3 with a slotted opening roo a6, through which the bolt c is adapted to be passed in an angular position before the parts a and b are placed together. Aft'er the bolt is inserted in this position it is moved to a Vertical position, thus bringing one side of the bolt-head c within the recess d4, where it is retained by the projecting fianges d5. The spring islthen placed on the bolt and the boss b3 of the part b threaded onto the said bolt, with the guiding-edges a2 of the part a within the hook-shaped bearings or ways b2 of the part b. When thus assembled, the parts are ready for use. The jaws a' b are preferably placed at an angle to each other, so as to stand slightlycloser together at the outer extremities than at the rear, the taper thus formed corresponding, preferably, to the taper of an ordinary shingle. The part b is preferably provided with projecting spurs or points b4, adapted to engage in the bar B and prevent lateral movement of the same thereon. I also preferably provide the part b with openings b5, which stand coincident with an opening c7 in the back of the stationary part a, the opening a7 being elongated, so that one or more of the openings b5 will be coincident therewith in whatever position of adjustment the jaws d o may assume. These openings b5 are adapted to receive nails orV screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing the bar B to the clamps or supports A.

Itis thought that the operation will be understood from the above description. In use the jaws d and Z9 are clamped by means of the thumb-nut c2 on opposite sides of the projecting ends of a shingle or other suitable stationary'support. Two Vof the Vsaid clamps are preferably employed, connected together by the bar B, which may be secured thereto by the points or spurs b4 or by nails or screws passing through the openings b5 and a7, if desired. When so connected, it Will be seen that an efficient scaffold is provided which may be readily removed or adjusted, as desired, and which is capable of being connected to the projecting ends, edges, or eaves of an ord inary shingle roof, thus furnishing a support or scaffold for the workmen assoon as the first course of shingles or a part thereof has been laid.

It is obvious that the device herein described admits of Various modifications in the mechanical constructions. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the exact constructions shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- l. A two-part scaffold-support, each of the parts of which is formed with a main body and a laterally-projecting jaw, hook-shaped guides on one of the parts, adapted to engage with suitable ways on the other part, laterally-projecting bosses or anges on each of said parts on the opposite side thereof from the projecting-jaw, a clamping-bolt arranged adjacent to and parallel with the main body of each of said parts and adapted to extend through said bosses or jaws, a spring about said clamping-bolt, and an adj listing-nut on the screw-threaded part of said bolt, the projecting jaws of the respective parts being arranged at an angle to each other, so that their nearest approach shall be at their outer extremities, substantially as specified.

2. A two-part scaffold-support, each of the parts of which consists of a main body and a laterally-projecting jaw, one of the parts being provided with hook-shaped guides to engage with similar ways on the other part, projecting spurs on one of said parts to engage a scaffold bar or beam, backwar'dly-projecting bosses on each of the parts, which bosses are arranged in line with each other, a connecting-bolt extending through said bosses, a spring about said bolt arranged between said bosses, an adjusting-nut on the screw-threaded portion of said bolt, coincident openings through the respective parts, and aflanged recess on one of said parts to receive the head of said bolt, substantially as specified.

3. In a support for a roofing-scaffold, a station'ary part having a forwardly-projecting jaw and a backwardly-extending iiange or boss, a recess under said flange or boss, a slotted opening through said ange or boss, a movable part having hook-shaped guides or ways adapted to engage the edges of said stationary part,ra forwardly-projecting jaw Y Y and a backwardly-projecting boss on said movable part, a connecting-bolt adapted to pass through the respective bosses and rest in the recess in said stationary part, a spring on said bolt between said bosses, and a thumb-nut screw-threaded on said bar, and coincident openings through the respective parts, substantially as specified.

4. A clamping-support for a rooing-scaold, consisting of a stationary and movable part, each having forwardly-projecting jaws arranged at an angle to each other and backwardly-extending perforated bosses coincident with each other, a spring between the respective bosses and a connecting-bolt extending through said bosses and spring and provided with a thumb-nut screw-threaded thereon, coincident openings through the respective parts, and projecting spurs or points on one of said parts, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of March, A. D. 1892.

JAMES B. COTTOM.

Witnesses:

J. W. ALLIsoN, L. C. CoTToM. 

